Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish independence ‘makes the case for optimism’

Nicola Sturgeon has told the Scottish National party’s annual conference that independence makes the “case for optimism” in troubled times, and promised Scotland “a steady and compassionate hand on the tiller”.

The first minister spoke of the “massive responsibility of me and my government” to help Scots through the cost of living crisis, as she spoke to delegates in Aberdeen at the party’s first in-person conference since the pandemic.

Contrasting the UK government’s plans to “bundle [asylum seekers] on to planes like unwanted cargo”, Sturgeon emphasised Scotland’s international responsibility to stand with those in Iran, Afghanistan, Russian, Belarus and Ukraine.

Sturgeon’s blunt assertion that she “detests” the Tories, made on the Laura Kuennsberg TV show on Sunday morning, attracted criticism from opponents and dominated Monday’s front pages, but she did not baulk at describing the tax cutting package announced by the UK government as “unconscionable”.

Noting that the last time the party met together in October 2019, the Tories had recently elected Boris Johnson as their new leader she went on: “It took the Tories three years to realise Boris Johnson was a disaster. With Liz Truss, it took them just three weeks.”

Referring to the chaos unleashed by the UK government’s disasterous mini-budget in late September, Sturgeon went on: “[Truss] caused mayhem in the markets with her decision to borrow billions of pounds to fund tax cuts for the richest. Borrowing to be repaid by eye-watering austerity cuts and a raid on the incomes of the poorest.”

With the supreme court set to consider whether the law allows the Scottish parliament to legislate for an advisory referendum over the coming two days, Sturgeon said: “If Westminster had any respect at all for Scottish democracy, this court hearing wouldn’t be necessary.”

If the court decides against the Scottish government, which the majority of constitutional experts believe it will, she will respect the decision and reflect, she said.

“But fundamentally, it will leave us with a very simple choice. Put our case for independence to the people in an election … or give up on Scottish democracy.”